No. 12 Bulldogs Host No. 23 South Carolina For Monday Night Showcase Series

Saturday, March 28

Starkville

2 p.m.

Mississippi State

#23 South Carolina

Tickets From $5 - $10

STARKVILLE, MS - January 09, 2026 - Mississippi State Catcher/Infielder Abby Grace Richardson (#2) during 2025-2026 Softball Production Day at the Holliman Athletic Center at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS. Photo By Ivy Rose Ball

Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics

No. 12 Bulldogs Host No. 23 South Carolina For Monday Night Showcase Series

March 27, 2026 | Softball

Game Notes

By: Brian Ogden, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – The weekend starts a little later for No. 12/14 Mississippi State this week. The Bulldogs will host No. 23/24 South Carolina for their annual Saturday-Monday series with the final two games airing nationally on SEC Network.

Saturday is MSU's annual Think Pink game, and the first 250 fans will receive pink rally towels. Monday night will see head coach Samantha Ricketts mic'd up on the SEC Network broadcast. It is also Faculty and Staff Appreciation night with discounted tickets available to MSU employees.

The Bulldogs wrapped up non-conference play on Wednesday with their second no-hitter of the year, shutting out UT Martin, 7-0. State was 28-2 in non-conference play and reached 30 wins in fewer games than any previous squad in school history.

South Carolina is coming off an 8-0 run-rule loss to Clemson, a team that State split with earlier in March in two true road games. MSU run-ruled the Tigers in the second meeting between the teams.

Game Coverage

Saturday, March 28

2 p.m. – South Carolina | Watch on SEC Network+ | Live Stats | Listen on HailState.com | Buy Tickets

Sunday, March 29

6 p.m. – South Carolina | Watch on SEC Network | Live Stats | Listen on HailState.com | Buy Tickets

Monday, March 30

6 p.m. – South Carolina | Watch on SEC Network | Live Stats | Listen on HailState.com | Buy Tickets

Leading Off

First To Thirty: State reached the 30-win mark in 36 games, which is the fewest number of contests needed to reach that milestone in school history. The Bulldogs did so in 38 contests last spring.

Pop At The Top: Kiarra Sells moved into the leadoff spot on Wednesday and reached base in all three plate appearances with a walk, two-run homer and RBI double. She has reached safely in nine of her last 10 plate appearances with five walks, a double, two homers and four RBIs.

Goold Gets Her No-No: After throwing four one-hitters this year, including two where the only hit came when she was one out away from ending the game, Peja Goold tossed her first career no-hitter and the 28th in program history on Wednesday. It was the 10th seven-inning no-no in MSU history. Goold struck out a season-high 13 batters, one shy of her career high.

Nothing For You: The Bulldogs have a pair of no-hitters this year, marking the eighth season with multiple in program history. Pitching coach Taryne Mowatt-McKinney has called five no-hitters since she arrived in 2024, which already ranks third most by any Bulldog pitching coach.

Down On Strikes: Alyssa Faircloth ranks third nationally in total strikeouts (152) and is looking to post the sixth 200-strikeout season in program history. She only needs nine to crack the MSU single-season top 10.

Bullpen Bullies: Mississippi State leads the nation in strikeouts (333), strikeouts looking (64) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.12). The Bulldogs are just 77 strikeouts away from a top-five mark in program history.

Stiles' Streak: Morgan Stiles has reached base safely in seven straight games and has reached base safely in all but four games this season.

Big Fish: Redshirt freshman Taylor Troutman leads the Bulldogs with five RBIs and a .706 slugging percentage in SEC play.

Sacrificial State: Des Rivera has tied the MSU single-season record with five sacrifice flies, which is sixth nationally. As a team, the Bulldogs boast 19, which ranks sixth and is just two away from the school record.

Barbary Two-Bags: Nadia Barbary ranks seventh all-time at MSU with 43 career doubles. Twenty of those have come in SEC play, which is sixth-most by a Bulldog.

About South Carolina (21-13, 1-5 SEC)

Series History

Notables

Based on cumulative opponent winning percentage, the Gamecocks have the second-toughest schedule in the nation with their opponents winning 70.0 percent of their games. The SEC accounts for all of the top 10 teams in that regard. South Carolina is second in the SEC with 10 triples, and Tori Ensley and Nia McKight both have three, which ranks fifth in the league. The Gamecocks are the only team in the nation to see seven different pitchers earn a win this year. Jamie Mackay has hit a home run in four of her last eight games. Arianna Rodi is eighth among active players with 50 career home runs.

On Deck

The Bulldogs will travel to No. 3/5 Florida next week for a three-game series that will start early. Friday night's game is still scheduled for 5 p.m. CT, but Saturday's contest will be televised nationally on SEC Network beginning at 10:30 a.m. The series finale is set for noon.

Follow the Bulldogs

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